Latest news with #WaterandSewerageDepartment
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Shreveport's ongoing efforts to address taste, odor problems
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)— The Shreveport Water and Sewerage Department continues to tackle high levels of Geosmin, which are affecting the taste and odor of the city's ongoing water problem. The City of Shreveport Water Department stated the issue was due to elevated Geosmin, a naturally occurring compound produced by algae in Cross Lake', which they continue to treat multiple times. 'The Water and Sewerage Department is actively monitoring Geosmin concentrations and making adjustments as needed to restore the water's taste and odor to normal levels,' states Shreveport's Water and Sewerage Department (SWSD). Shreveport 'game changer' $3.5M FEMA grant for water system upgrade They say the department is 'aggressively treating the water to resolve the issue' and continues working with outside experts to identify the most effective strategies for managing it. 'It is believed that the elevated Geosmin levels are related to a lake turnover similar to the one experienced this summer, which also caused higher-than-normal manganese levels and higher-than-normal water temperatures. A lake turnover occurs when nutrients from the bottom of the lake rise to the surface, which likely triggered the current algae spike as a delayed effect' SWSD states, 'Cross Lake is a shallow body of water, and that alone presents many complex treatment challenges. ' The department stresses that they will continue to flush water pipes to improve the distribution of newly treated water throughout the city. If customers are still experiencing odor or taste issues, contact the Department of Waterand Sewerage at 318-673-7600. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Shreveport Water Department addresses taste, odor in water
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — The City of Shreveport's Water and Sewerage Department is addressing temporary changes in the taste and smell of the city's drinking water. According to a press release from the city, officials say these changes, caused by naturally occurring algae blooms in Cross Lake, have led to the presence of Geosmin, a harmless compound responsible for an earthy taste and odor. The department reassures residents that despite the noticeable changes, the water remains completely safe to drink and use for household purposes. 'Geosmin is not harmful to health, but we understand it can be unpleasant,' said William Daniel, Director of Water and Sewerage. 'We are actively working to resolve this issue and appreciate the community's patience.' More local news The city typically treats Cross Lake with copper sulfate from March to November to manage algae growth. The most recent treatment, conducted in late November, exhausted the 2024 inventory. Officials say that the unseasonably warmer water in Cross Lake led to additional algae growth in December and January. Although the City has placed an order for additional copper sulfate delivery has been delayed due to last week's snow in south Louisiana. Suppliers are working to expedite the shipment, which is expected to arrive soon. The water treatment plant is continuing oxidation with ozone to address the odor. While ozone is highly effective against Geosmin, intermittent outages occurred during recent cold spells. The city says these outages, lasting only a few hours at a time, contributed to the odor being more noticeable for some residents. The issues with the ozone generator have been resolved and the generator is back in service. Other treatment processes used at the plant, including chlorine dioxide, coagulation, and chloramination, are not effective against Geosmin. 'We are committed to providing our residents with safe, high-quality water and are taking every measure to address the current situation,' added Daniel. Officials say residents can expect noticeable improvements in taste and smell over the next two weeks as copper sulfate treatments resume and ozone operations continue. For updates and additional information, please visit the Water and Sewerage Department's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
